Abstract

The asymmetric velocity distribution that characterizes the flow field in river bends" "originates with acceleration induced by bend curvature. This influence of curvature is" "cumulative in the sense that the asymmetry, reflected by cross-channel displacement of the" "filament of high velocity, starts to develop at the bend entrance and increases downstream as" "far as the curvature of the bend is sustained. Local rates of bend migration measured normal" "to the channel centerline are then proportional to the local flow asymmetry. The average" "migration rate for a bend can be related to its average curvature by integrating" "the effects of curvature and associated bed forms over bend length. Published data for bends" "of the Beatton River, Canada, confirm that average migration rates increase monotonically" "with average curvature if bend length is taken into account.